Xi Jinping Lands In Delhi, All Eyes On India-China Bilateral | WATCH

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in New Delhi for the BRICS Summit. This is Xi's first visit to India in seven years, as all eyes are now on his bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Xi was received at the airport by Minister of State Jitin Prasada. Heavy security arrangements are in place across Delhi upon his arrival in the national capital for the BRICS Summit. Xi Jinping landed at Palam Technical Airport and is expected to stay in Delhi for the next 24 hours, with tight security arrangements along his movement routes.

The Chinese President was accompanied by two of China’s most powerful officials - Cai Qi and Wang Yi, news agency PTI reported. Xi is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the summit, in what will be his first visit to India in nearly seven years.

Xi left Beijing on Saturday morning for New Delhi at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Who Are The Two Key Men With Xi?

Xi’s entourage includes Cai Qi, a member of the high-powered Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee. Also travelling with Xi is Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister and a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Xinhua reported.

The presence of the two senior officials gives Xi’s India visit an added diplomatic weight, particularly as New Delhi and Beijing work to stabilise ties following the 2020 Eastern Ladakh standoff.

Wang Yi has been closely involved in discussions with India on bilateral ties and the boundary issue. Ahead of Xi’s visit, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Wang held extensive talks in Beijing last month.

During the 25th round of Special Representatives’ talks in Beijing on August 25, the two sides reached an eight-point consensus, including an agreement to advance discussions on an early and substantial harvest of boundary delimitation and border management.